Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, Llywydd. I very much welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the budget as Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, as it marks the first time that this committee has undertaken budget scrutiny.
Huw Irranca-Davies: So, this also represents an important milestone in the scrutiny of the Welsh Government's justice-related spending, and I hope that, through our work, we start to shine a light on this very important issue. As part of this greater scrutiny and transparency, we're very grateful to the First Minister for responding to our request and providing information on justice spend prior to our session...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 5. Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government LGBTQ+ action plan? OQ57600
Huw Irranca-Davies: 3. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact on Wales of the UK Government's proposals for legislation on retained EU law? OQ57599
Huw Irranca-Davies: 7. What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the need for inter-parliamentary reforms in light of the changes to inter-governmental relations at a UK level? OQ57602
Huw Irranca-Davies: 2. What measures are in place to promote opportunities for work experience and open recruitment in the Senedd workplace? OQ57601
Huw Irranca-Davies: I thank the Minister for that response. Of course, this question was tabled before the courts reached the verdict on the tragic and brutal murder of Dr Gary Jenkins, and I'm certain that the Minister will want to join all of us in this Siambr today in paying tribute to him. This was a homophobic attack that took place in this very city, not far from where we speak today. I'm sure that I speak...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I echo the points made by Rhys about proper engagement and the constructive approach being taken by the Minister, but can I just say, citizens across the nation were hanging the bunting out over the weekend. They were overjoyed to hear this news, and also the appointment of man of the people, Jacob Rees-Mogg, as Minister for Brexit opportunities, and that there would be a bonfire of...
Huw Irranca-Davies: The inter-governmental reforms do hold out some positive news, I think. If they can be made to be embedded in both the tone of respect but also the machinery of Government that they genuinely are meaningful between Governments, then they hold out some real hope for the future. But what we do know, of course, is that that strengthening of the inter-governmental machinery means that there is a...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you very much for that answer.
Huw Irranca-Davies: This is a genuinely open question, because I'm impressed, to be honest, at the extent to which the Senedd is opening up to people—young people and others—across the country in terms of saying, 'Come here and experience—get work experience,' or, 'Apply for work here, right at the heart of our national democracy.' And if you look at the website, it's very well signposted and so on. But my...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, Llywydd. With your invitation, this will the first of five speeches I will give in relation to scrutiny undertaken by my committee in recent weeks. I will therefore aim to keep my contributions focused.
Huw Irranca-Davies: I'll try to keep this as short as possible. We considered these regulations at our meeting on 31 January, and our report to the Senedd contains two merits reporting points. These regulations, as the Minister has said, amend the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 to place two further restrictions on a landlord’s ability to issue a notice seeking possession—first, if an energy performance...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you, Minister.
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. It's my second opportunity to speak on these motions in front of us this afternoon and I'm going to be even briefer in this excursion here. We considered these regulations at our meeting on 7 February and our report to the Senedd contains one technical reporting point. The regulations, as the Minister has said, make amendments to primary and secondary legislation as a...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, Llywydd. We have produced two reports covering the three consent memoranda that have been laid by the Minister on this Bill. The first of these was completed last December, and the second was laid only yesterday afternoon.
Huw Irranca-Davies: Now, given the number of recommendations contained within our second report on memoranda No. 2 and No. 3, we did provide the Minister with an early copy so as to better inform this afternoon’s debate, and I thank the Minister for formally responding to our report this morning as well. Llywydd, our report on memoranda No. 2 and No. 3 was, just to note, our twenty-third report now on...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, I accept the way that you're explaining this, that there is a balance here between the real priority of putting in place good policy that the Welsh Government and the people of Wales would want to see against a balance, which she explained, minimising the constitutional risk. But, perhaps an additional assurance would be, to the Senedd Members, that should there be...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch eto, Llywydd. It's great to welcome the former Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in his current role here today. I note the remarks he's made in opening that the Government is not minded to give consent to this LCM, but some of the remarks that I'm going to make are pertinent in case that position should indeed change subsequently. Our report on memorandum...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. It's a pleasure to follow my fellow two committee Chairs. And can I just say, on the fifth occasion that I've risen this afternoon, my thanks to the committee clerking team and colleagues as well for their consideration of these matters? And can I just note in passing the spirited defence by the Counsel General earlier on the Professional Qualifications Bill, which was really...
